Sorry for the late post everyone. I had to put my old Honda Accord to rest due to a very fortunate accident for me. Dealing with insurance claims and new car shopping was a time vacuum that took more out of me than i can relay. The good news is that I replaced it with an Infiniti M45! Oh my! I finally bought a mid life crisis stud car. Look forward to pictures in future posts:-).

Ok, let’s get to work!

There’s never a better time to start networking than the minute you’ve finish your written plan of action. The use of technology today can help you do so much information gathering that developing specific ideas and solutions are often a click away. The sky is the limit!

The benefits

By using networking or word of mouth strategy to market your business you’ll benefit in several ways:

• Save thousands of dollars in collateral material and advertising
• Build personal customer relationships within a very targeted specific market
• Create opportunities for other professionals to assist you and profit themselves along the way

Ultimately you avoid the added cost at a time when funds are likely to be most stretched.

Cutting out the heavy administration of a full on traditional marketing program will allow you to spend time doing the things that you love in your business. You are in control and have the freedom and flexibility to decide your working hours and create the perfect environment in which to do it.

The first step

Whether you are just starting to network or if you’ve been at it for years the first step, is always – coming up with the big idea! To come up with one, ask yourself these three questions. Just start creating lists and add to what you’ve already done.

1. Is there a gap in my current network where synergy can be achieved?
Does everyone know what you are up to and why? Are you talking about your vision, mission and goals to people that you love you? How about members of your church or gym? Are there people in your networks that others can benefit from knowing? Wherever you find yourself you need to have the ability to network, communicate and build connections. There is no time off for real networkers.

2. Can I utilize my hobby/passion/skill?
Thousands of people turn something they love doing (arts and crafts, pet care, health & fitness) into a way of making a living. How can you do what you do well to increase your value amongst your networks?

3. Can I do it better?
What do you need to do to reach a level of excellence within the boundaries of your talents? Remember, talent is found in your recurring patterns of thought and behaviors. We all have talent for something. You need to find yours and use it for the benefit of the world!

When answering these questions, bear in mind that the more you niche your ideas, the better. Rather than aiming to work in all kinds of networks with all kinds of people, think more about special niches with certain groups or types of people. The more niche your business, the more you will understand your networking activities and keep control of things. This will also keep marketing costs low.

All out of ideas?

If you have run through these questions without success, go back and try again! Use the who, what, when, where, why and how analysis approach. If that doesn’t work, try mind-mapping solutions. If all else fails borrow someone else’s ideas. There are literally thousands of articles and podcasts on every idea that you can imagine. Why not buy into someone else’s ideas. There is a growing number of google-able ideas out there.

An idea shared

People often ask if they should talk to other people about their networking ideas. The answer is yes. In fact, that’s the whole point. Share your networking ideas with anyone that is interested. In the beginning, talk to friends and family and the people you trust. Share your ideas with them and ask for feedback. What do they think is a great business conversation starter? Practice your elevator pitch. Get a friend to re-write your vision and mission.

Once you’ve come up with a big ideas, it’s time to write them down in the form of a business plan, which is a far easier task than you might imagine but we’ll cover that part next week!

This last assignment is all about external communication. I’ll take a moment to remind you here that the loudest voice in your life is your own. You need to be extra careful to speak to yourself in ways that affirm your highest truth. We’re going to try everything possible to make sure that your external dialogue is a reflection of real value to you and your highest internal ideals. What else should you be interested in talking about anyway?

Create Your Own Collateral

First let’s gather some collateral material that you think will be interesting to people that can make the hiring decision to bring you on board for your services and or products. We live in the universe of on-line newspapers and magazines. There thousands of blogs and postings of every kind available on the internet today. You can easily find a video or sound recording that matches your highest ideals and send them to others that would be similarly interested. You can join existing discussions or share useful information from a conference with the flick of the send key. You’ll need to find 2-3 pieces of third-party material that highlight a need for your product or service.

There may also be 1-2 pieces out there that your golden geese might be interested in. Remember golden geese are people that are naturally aligned with people that hire you or buy your products or services. They could also be recruited to be mentors or part of your personal advisory council. They might be more interested in fun topics that are universally interesting. Make sure that your materials back up your statements below.

Find Your Champions

Next, let’s gather some wonderful endorsement statements that you can share with the rest of the world about how great you are. Make sure that these statements highlight your ability to actually produce real results. Just having your old bosses or best friends say how sweet or nice you are doesn’t really do the trick so make sure they’ve expressed some ability or talent that you have. LinkedIn is an excellent place to gather these and easily share with others.

A hint about gathering endorsements ““ it’s much easier when you give them out first. LinkedIn is really a good tool for this as well but don’t be scared to just send a message out to clients and ask for it. You’ll need at least five for people not to think you’re a fluke.

I can hear some of you thinking about the fact that you are really just starting to do what you currently do. Don’t worry about it. You are credible at something and something has been produced as a result of your past efforts. If you’ve never actually put your best foot forward, start now.

Let’s think about you and the press. Look back over previous exercises and ask your self, “is there anything here that is worth publicizing?” Do you know how to write a press release? Of course you can. Check this out. Go ahead and crack one out right now.

Speaking Your Message

OK, let’s work on your seven second marketing introduction. What do you say when you introduce your self to people? Better yet what do you say when they ask you what you do? What’s the tag line at the end of your e-mail signature? You’ll need a catchy attractive statement the sums up the biggest benefit of your product or service. If you’re looking for a job you’ll need to focus on your greatest talents or the reasons people like to work with you. You’ll need to have a really good grasp of benefits vs. features that your product or service offers. This is critically important to your ability to use attractive language in describing what, how or why you do what you do. Check out this very interesting idea of benefits vs. features.

A sixty second or elevator speech is the most important part of a good networking communication strategy. Your ability to use attractive language and engage in meaningful conversation is more than a passive idea. Creating dialogue from your heart is the first step. Get used to telling stories and using demographic descriptions to describe what you are looking for. Of course being very specific about what you are looking for and how others can help you helps others actually more productive on your behalf. See example below. You’ll need at least two good elevator speeches followed by your tag line. These will have to be memorized and at the ready at all times.

Tools of the master

You are going to need some or all of the following tools to master your networking strategy in real time:

A professionally made name badge. These are so easy to order.

Card holders for each suit, briefcase, purse, etc., to carry your business cards

A card file to carry other people’s business cards

A contact management system or computer program (remember this will be a part of your follow up strategy)

A collateral material package (this will definitely include parts of your finished networking plan)

Make It Fun to Know You

What incentives can you give someone that agrees to be a part of your network? They are going to need opportunities to enjoy hanging out with you on-line or in person. Think through your options, talents and other relationships. You’d be surprised about how many people would like to meet your close contacts. Others would love to get a copy of your grandmother’s famous German Chocolate Cake recipe or be invited to your favorite sporting and entertainment events. You’ll want to create your own unique incentive package.

Sample Posting for Week Six

I found the following fantastic articles about hiring a business coach that my potential clients are sure to enjoy:

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/powertalk/archives/159813.asp?from=blog_last3

http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=192804

http://www.prleap.com/pr/5930/

Other B2B professionals that I work with will enjoy these:

http://www.thinktq.com/welcome/tqs_color_sequence_synergize.cfm?sa=110408&ac=000728&lp=000278&gclid=CO-g4IG6zpgCFQEoGgodNU_Z1g

http://workforceexcellence.com/uploads/StretchpointTeams.pdf

http://www.bnet.com/2422-13722_23-175110.html

These are my current endorsements:

“A dynamic speaker with some outstanding ideas on how to grow and maintain your business at any level.” January 22, 2009

Lee Tingler, Agent, Virginia Farm Bureau
was with another company when working with Marvin at Coach Powell Training and Development (CPT&D)

“Marvin and I met at his request to get to know one another as we both are networkers and I had answered one of his questions on Linkedin. I enjoyed our meeting very much and he gave me tips on improving my profile and a CD that contained a podcast with a fountain of information on how to improve my profile and other Linkedin do’s and don’ts. Coach Powell, you truly exemplify the “Giver’s gain” credo. With his suggestion to start a blog, ask questions and answer questions on Linkedin, my profile has already gained new business for me and my company. Thank you Coach!” January 21, 2009

Susan Cook, RDCPro „¢, NVSI-Certified, Principal Broker, Metro Residential Realty
was with another company when working with Marvin at Coach Powell Training and Development (CPT&D)

“Marvin is a superlative coach who combines energy, intelligence and a shrewd understanding of business principles to create a powerfully effective program of success.” January 12, 2009

Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity

Isabella Jones, E-RYT 500, Professional Trainer
hired Marvin as a Career Coach in 2005, and hired Marvin more than once

“Marvin is easy to talk to, listens well, but does not waste your time as he pulls out information and ideas from you and helps you see yourself and your business from new and exciting angles. He’s right there throwing out ideas and concepts to you, opening your eyes to what you thought you already knew how to see. He truly understands how to give, and he remembers how to laugh. This is a coach you can trust.” January 11, 2009

Laura Kowalski, Intuitive Coach, Laughing Divas
was with another company when working with Marvin at Coach Powell Training and Development (CPT&D)

“Marvin Powell is highly motivated and gifted with many talents. One which is the ablility to grab focused attention with anyone he interacts with enabling him to gain their trust and quickly establishing a mutually valuble relationship. It is an honor to work with him.” December 6, 2008

Randal Miller, Clinical Director, Natural Health Solutions
was with another company when working with Marvin at Coach Powell Training and Development (CPT&D)

“If you need someone who can cut to the chase, Marvin is your man. He listens, does his analysis, an presto–a realistic and actionable recommendations that can be immediately applied. Marvin’s vast background in business consulting makes him the perfect choice for any coaching engagement. Highly recommended!” November 30, 2008

Lauren Kirby, Founder and President, TurnAround, LLC
was with another company when working with Marvin at Coach Powell Training and Development (CPT&D)

The local and international press should be interested in the following ideas:

My unique coaching system VisionQuest90 „¢

My ability to create synergy between for profit and non-profit productivity

Here’s my tag line

Coach Powell Training and Development is the creator of VisionQuest90 „¢ the most dynamic personal, business, and executive coaching system today. Through the use of our advanced technologies and systems we help growth oriented business owners, consultants, and nonprofit leaders achieve excellence in their chosen endeavors. Join our 90 day program and experience the revolution!

Sample Elevator Pitch

Ben Jamin is one of my favorite clients. He runs a small twenty-five year old promotional marketing business from his home in Fairfax Virginia. Tons of locally based non-profit organizations depend on Ben for their conference and other marketing products. His wife of twenty years and his eighteen year old son haven’t really seen spent any real time with him or helped him in the business.

The trying economic times have created more time for Ben to hang around with his family and he was driving them absolutely nuts with request for time and attention. You see Ben had been used to communicating and socializing with his clients and they seem to be running out of reasons to talk to him as their organizations downsize merge and cancel services.

Ben knew he had to do something to get back in his own business and out of his families or he’d loose them both. He consulted with me and I helped him reinvigorate his communication strategy with his clients using some of the most up to date social web techniques. He’s been able to expand his client base to a nationwide audience and bring on the right team members to help himself using my highly intense VisionQuest90 process.

Today, I’d like to meet other service professionals; lawyers, CPAs and medical professionals. I’d love to sit with them briefly and explain my proven system to them and help them maximize the value of their personal input to business growth. Please have them give me a call or email right away. You never know when you could be saving a friend’s business.

Coach Powell keep the success in small businesses worldwide. Coach Powell leads the way!

The greatest benefits form belonging to my network are:

Tons of business opportunities for small business leaders

Introductions to other Coach Powell community members

Enlightening and productive personal meetings

Remember, networking is the only form of marketing that can truly focus on a niche market absolutely in real time. What you say and how to say it matters more than a little bit. The feedback will be immediately positive or negative; the true professional takes the time to prepare and doesn’t waste opportunity.

Everything Starts With You

This week we will deal with the most important communication that there is. Communicating your self-talk must be positive and inspirational. It must speak to your own personal truth and keep you aligned with your future.

Here are some valuable exercises to help you improve:

List your five strongest personal character traits (PCT). Make sure these character traits are backed up and validated by others. What would your best friends say they are? You’ll know this because they already said it (that’s a hint).

Of your PCTs list two ways you can leverage each of them to achieve your vision and mission. Think of things or ideas that can help others engage with you. What will make make your networking partners interested enough to commit to helping you? What’s the best way to communicate your vision and goals to them?

Create two affirmation statements that you can repeat to yourself to increase your positive attitude or keep you focused

Describe the image you would like to create amongst your networks

Sample Posting

My five greatest personal character traits (PCTs) are:

• My willingness to share
• My ability to listen
• My talent for developing positive business relationships
• My understanding of global financial markets
• My ability to commit to practical, meaningful activities

I can leverage my PCTs by:

• Communicating and sharing what I’ve learned with others even more
• Developing a team of other coaches to mentor and train
• Use my listening skills to create opportunities for people in my network
• Create a strong understanding of my top ten networking contacts by interviewing and writing about them
• Create connections through my passion for small business and advocacy
• Help my clients and contacts understand how to read financial market data to their advantage
• Show my friends how to take courageous yet insightful actions to help them grow
• Etc

Here are two statements that I can repeat to help me stay focused and upbeat:

• There is no one that is more prepared for success than me
• I am such a courageous genius and even my mistakes are good

Here’s a statement that represents the image that I’ll have to have.

• Coach Powell is a “go to guy.” Whenever we need to get the right things done, the coach is right there to give us a little boost to focus and dig a little deeper.

Next week is our last formal lesson, and then we go into two weeks of writing. There is plenty of time for you stragglers to catch up so don’t waste it.

The next few weeks are going to require a review of what you’ve already done so take a minute to go back and review weeks one and two before you post your work from this weeks assignment. You should have generated so many ideas by now that it’s hard to contain them.

If you haven’t already started with week one, go back to the “rules of the game” blog post and start there. It’s not too late, you might not get caught up with the contest but you can keep up with the class. We’ll bring the contest back again in the second quarter 2009 and you’ll have an early start.

**IMPORTANT** If you’re going to play along, don’t just do the exercises for yourself. Posting your results ads to the community of learning and helps others get to see and know your business. You’ll be surprised who’ll want to help you.

The next few lessons come almost entirely from Ivan Misner’s work on building a WOMBAT plan. I’ve put our unique spin on this but I highly recommend that you purchase his book “Business By Referral”. Please see sample exercise so that you’ll know how to post your results

Diversify your network activities

Start to identify your playing fields and your team mates

The selection process is very important. Don’t let chance decide where you’re going to spend your time and efforts. Remember, the key is to diversify your activities. One type of business organization will not serve all your needs. Therefore, you should consciously select a well-rounded mix of groups. Try to avoid being in more than one group that separates their membership by having one per category like a BNI chapter. If you have associates, partners, or employees, take their participation into account when deciding what groups you need to become active in you may not need to go!

List the names of the groups that you now belong to. Remember networks are active groups of people that meet regularly and know you by name. Ideally they have existing communications mechanisms like meetings, conferences and newsletters that allow members to interact. Groups today might even have a social networking component on-line for its members. Some groups are all virtual and never really meet physically.

Here are a few suggested places to analyze group information:

Guidestar- is a great place to check out associations. You’ll get information like; where they meet, how many members they have, what kinds of publications they distribute,

Facebook or LinkedIn ““ some groups have developed their own social networking site to allow members access to one another and facilitate information sharing. You can even post information (news) or ask questions within the groups. You may be able to book events or set up committee meetings on-line.

Gale-Cengage ““ This is the BIG Daddy of all association research tools and can be easily accessed on-line with your current library card.

List 5 groups that you are not a member of but would like to consider and why.

\

Which group do you think is most important and list the answers to the following questions:

How long has this group been in existence?

How many members does it have?

What is the quality of the membership?

Is it affiliated with a national or international group?

How focused is the group on its objectives?

How structured are the meetings?

How much does it cost?

How often are the meetings?

What do other members say about the group?

What is your overall impression of the group?

How much will you membership cost?

How much time will you set aside to attend meeting and network with members?

What networking goals will you accomplish through this group?

You’ll need to do this kind of analysis for each group so that you can work everything into your budget of money and time. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and speak to a membership director or chairman.

Feel free to e-mail Coach Powell with any questions!

Sample Posting

I currently belong to the five following groups:

The Retired Military Officers Association

The Fairfax County Small Business Commission

The National Association of Minority Government Contractors

Business Networking International

Rotary Club International

I’d like to be a member of:

The Mid Atlantic Venture Association ““ the venture capital groups that belong to this organization generally fund my clients. It would be great if they all know, like and trust me.

The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce ““ is a great place to meet more golden geese that play at the BIG table

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority ““ has their fingers on the pulse of all business activity in the region. They focus on bringing new businesses here.

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants ““ they’ll know all of the best personal services companies in the area and be able to refer me. I can also sponsor their events and training.

Etc.

The National Venture Capital Association is my biggest networking target.

Since 1973 NVCA’s mission is to foster greater understanding of the importance of venture capital to the U.S. economy, and support entrepreneurial activity and innovation.

NVCA has approximately 335. Member Venture capital organizations, corporate financiers, and individual venture capitalists who are responsible for investing private capital in young companies on a professional basis.

The NVCA and it’s members represents the public policy interests of the venture capital community, strives to maintain high professional standards, provides reliable industry data, sponsors professional development, and facilitates interaction among its members. How focused is the group on its objectives?

All meetings are two day conference style meetings with training and executive breakout sessions

It’ll cost roughly $30,000 to play which includes both annual meetings and sponsorship activity

NVCA has two annual meeting – 2009 Apr. 29 – 30, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; 2010 May 4 – 5, Burlingame, California

Etc.

If you haven’t already started with week one, go back to the “rules of the game” blog post and start there. It’s not too late, you might not get caught up with the contest but you can keep up with the class. We’ll bring the contest back again in the second quarter 2009 and you’ll have an early start.

**IMPORTANT** If you’re going to play along, don’t just do the exercises for yourself. Posting your results ads to the community of learning and helps others get to see and know your business. You’ll be surprised who’ll want to help you.

Be sure to read this entire weeks lesson before you jump in. There is no particular order.

The next few lessons come almost entirely from Ivan Misner’s work on building a WOMBAT plan. I’ve put our unique spin on this but I highly recommend that you purchase his book “Business By Referral” when you get a chance. Please see sample exercise so that you’ll know how to post your results for this week.

Compiling your current and future contact data

It’s important for a master networker to be able to collect and use data from his/her networks. Today you are going to need more than the basic contact information. You’ll need to know their cell address, do they have a skype account, are they using LinkedIn, Facebook maybe even Ning? You’ll want to understand what kinds of contacts they have that might want to use your services or help you find a job. Decide how you wish to assemble all your contacts in one location through whatever medium is easiest for you. It may be a combination of things such as your:

Computer database Vendor/client list (I use Outlook and Excel)

Mailing lists Rolodex (maybe LinkedIn or Jott)

Business card box Etc. (yes get those stacks of cards off your desk and organize them)

Segment your contacts

Decide how you want to segment your contacts and post results (see example below).

Define your team

Contact Spheres are businesses or professions that can easily provide a source of referrals for one another. They have a symbiotic, compatible, noncompetitive relationship with one another, such as a lawyer, CPA, financial planner, and banker.

List the unique talents and skills that might make you attractive to them. They may make great reciprocal partners later.

Plan to quarterback your own team

You must take responsibility for your networking activity and results. The quarterback is central to every offense; in this case every business acquisition or networking strategy. You’ll be the key figure to a host of others that have similar interest to you. Your team members may have the same client demographics that you do and work in the same markets. Each team member should be unique but not a competitor. We already talked about the symbiotic relationship above. Guess who the star player is? That would be you! You’re the one that knows all of the plays!

List five habits that you’ll need to be a good quarterback.

List at least five types of firms that you should build partnerships or alliances with to better enable you to serve your market. We sometimes refer to these as “golden geese”. They continue to lay the “golden eggs” that you want but you have to care for them. Don’t eat them! Selling to your team members could be hazardous to your health!

Establish contact goals (remember goals are always SMART, back to week two)

Don’t become a cave dweller. You will have to constantly engage your networks. Set goals for the number of appointments you will establish with the people you want to have in your team or will build an alliance with.

Sample Lesson Posting for Week Three

I will maintain and integrate the data to manage my contacts in the following areas

1. Cell Phone
2. LinkedIn
3. Facebook
4. Various NING sites
5. Franklin Planner
6. Outlook

I will segment my contacts in the following ways

1. A-for clients, active and inactive
2. B-golden geese or referral sources
3. C-suspects and friends
4. D-no bodies

My team members will:

1. have burning desire to be the best in their field
2. have the demonstrated capacity to grow their business by 50%
3. be willing to meet weekly with each other to plan and account for our success
4. embrace the givers gain philosophy
5. be willing to engage new technology, social-networking, etc
6. belong to other engaging networks

To be a good quarter-back I’ll need to have the same characteristics of my team members above plus:

1. be focused on delivering results for the team
2. help with research and recruiting of solid team members
3. engage with team members outside of team meetings
4. bring new innovative ideas to the table
5. etc.

I’ll need to recruit excellent members of the following professions to my team:

1. small business attorney
2. bookkeeper
3. CPA
4. telecommunications specialist
5. web developer
6. business broker
7. commercial Realtor

I will engage my team with:

1. weekly discussions on my blog
2. weekly discussions on the various Coach Powell Communities (Linked, Facebook etc.)
3. create one thousand more GAINS profiles (phone interviews will be fastest)
4. see each golden goose for a personal meeting at least monthly (make and fulfill meaningful commitments)
5. ask golden geese for three referrals deliver five monthly (deliver more than you take)
6. present my business plan to all golden geese immediately the next two months

Some definitions to explore:

Vision- helps to pinpoint your destination. It informs you and your major stakeholders where you intend to be.

Mission- how you intend to reach your destination

Goals- what specific strategies will you employ to reach your goals. They must be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely)

Tasks- what regular consistent tactics and techniques will you use

Week 2 tasks to be completed and submitted on or before Jan 16

• Look back over you previous list and for every entry ask what do I have to do specifically to achieve or get better results here?
• List out your answers as in the example below (you may have more than forty entry’s). I’d use free form think like in your own personalized brain storming session for about 1/2 an hour
• Prioritize your top ten items; these are you real goals that you must achieve
• Break your goals into tasks that must be completed to achieve the goal. You might want to try some back wards planning here. There is a sample back up plan on my #4. You’ll need one for all ten. Begin with achieving the SMART goal and work backwards from there. If you are not use to doing this it will take some practice get started right away. Remember each of your ten items needs a backwards plan!
• Now which of these tasks must you focus on daily for the rest of the year-choose five. Clearly you will do more than this but these will become your wildly important goals that we want to focus on everyday
• List why each of these tasks is important

Sample Answers

These are some the things that I could do to get better results from my networking in 2009

1. I need to invite new people to join me on LinkedIn every week
2. I’ll have to construct at least different personalized LinkedIn invitations for different types of people
3. Teach a master class on social networking to people
4. Prepare two high quality marketing messages (letters or e-mails) for national associations
5. Create a revenue sharing plan for associations
6. Create a volunteer cadre to travel and co-sponsor trade booths with me
7. Create trade booth marketing materials
8. Develop relationships with CD fulfillment shops
9. Connect Podcasts to I-tunes etc. and other services
10. Sell blog sponsorships to national groups
11. Develop excellent relationships with association executives
12. Create monthly press releases
13. Re-write vision and mission statements
14. Set aside time every week for networking follow-up and commitments
15. Review goals every day
16. Plan vacation time
17. Budget networking opportunities
18. Blog and teach a course on the power of reflective listening
19. Create new ideas daily
20. Visualize your greatest ideas daily
21. Send vision and mission statement out to thousands of friends for comment
22. Develop a top ten list of golden shepherds that I must meet
23. etc.

These are the top ten things that I absolutely must do to achieve my vision this year with the attending tasks (remember to use the SMART method:

1. I need to invite 25-50 new people to join me on LinkedIn every week
2. Memorize and deliver 5 co-responding elevator pitches in these areas (golden shepherds, clients, LinkedIn, speaking, sponsors)
3. Host several mega networking parties with over 200 attendees
4. Successfully Teach a master class on social networking for (500-1000) people

• follow up with conference planners for the next year
• send personal thank you note to each attendee for joining
• send e-book to each new LinkedIn connection ask them to share and make it viral
• volunteer to send FREE e-book on creating winning personal profiles
• execute presentation
• man conference sponsorship table with staff
• send LinkedIn CDs out ahead of conference
• formally accept conference speaking engagement
• ask lead conference planners to have me speak
• secure relationships with top conference planners
• do marketing surveys for conference planners
• develop lists of top conference planners
• do research to identify potential conference engagements

Here are the daily tasks that I must focus on everyday and why

1. Invite five contacts to review my LinkedIn profile-this will dramatically increase my brand awareness
2. Answer a LinkedIn question-dazzle the LinkedIn community with my brilliance
3. Send a note to an identified association professional-keep meeting new association leaders regularly
4. ­Follow-up on yesterday’s contacts- helps to keep commitments and build trust
5. ­Review my top ten contact wish list and seek introductions- keeps me focused on building the next relationship regularly
6. ­Give two recommendations ““ helps to focus on others to build trust

If you haven’t already feel free to send me an invitation to join you on LinkedIn.

-Coach Powell

Welcome to the revolution!

• Read each blog entry 1-6    on Vision at www.ninetydaypowerplay.com and leave comments for the community your comments must be at least five sentences for each entry (everyone will know if you fake it so don’t)
• List at least ten real measurements of success for you becoming the best networker that you can be in 2009
• List the values and principles that you will have to embrace and focus on to achieve these results and why
• List at least five weaknesses that you’ll have to strengthen in your current personal behavior to insure success and why
• List at least five strengths that you currently have that you’ll have to maximize and explain why
• List at least five opportunities that you must take advantage of and why
• List at least five threats that could keep you from achieving your networking goals if you don’t get in front of them

Week 1 Sample Answers!

Ten measurements of my networking success for 2009

1. I will have at 1,000’s of active LinkedIn Connections
2. I will be sought after for interviews by professional associations
3. Associations will want to hire me to speak
4. Large groups will buy my training systems
5. etc

Values and principles that I will have to embrace and focus on to achieve these results are:

1. caring for professional association executives
2. diligence to stay in front my PR
3. courage to approach strangers regularly and often
4. resolve to never quit

The five weaknesses that I will have to strengthen and why are:

1. stop procrastinating- Don’t let the BIG goal slip break them down into bite sized chunks
2. work on energy level- I’ll need to be my best always
3. etc.

The five strengths that I’ll have to maximize are:

1. my ability to communicate effectively
2. my willingness to try new and different ideas
3. my creative energy
4. my empathetic listening ability
5. etc

The five opportunities that I must take advantage of are:

1. I must enlist the help of my closest friends
2. learn the skills of a master recruiter
3. engage more golden shepherds
4. etc.

The five threats that could keep me from achieving my networking goals if you don’t get in front of them are:

1. wasting money on bad marketing ideas
2. going into meetings unprepared with solid elevator speech
3. willy-nilly activity with no real plan or expectation
4. etc

Here’s a list of “Why” my previous answers are important:

1. maintaining an active an vibrant LinkedIn community will help me connect people in meaningful ways, saving all of us time and money
2. creating great press relations with media leaders int eh business community will help grow the Coach Powell brand quickly
3. developing excellent corporate ties will help our on-line courses fly
4. getting help from close friends will help things move faster because we’ve already developed trust
5. learning how to really recruit talent will help me build a perfect network
6. making sure that I block out time to really pre-pare for each networking opportunity will help me maintain professionalism and focus on the goal
7. understanding the vision of where I’m going and communicating that effectively to others will explode my results
8. etc.

Hi Everyone!
I know that you are all getting geared up for 2009 and I’d like to help.
I’d like to take a moment to invite you to a few special sessions of my FREE small business coaching series. For years I’ve used Coffee, Tea, You and Me as a wonderful outlet to facilitate the advanced networking education of small business leaders in the area. As a result, I’ve had a tremendously powerful impact on many small business leaders and have been inspired to use this venue to conduct a workshop and contest for small business owners to create their own word-of- mouth marketing plan for 2009.
That’s right, for the next 5 or so weeks we’ll be helping our clients and contestants to create their own personal winning strategy. I’ll be right there to guide you in the development of a plan for phenomenal success in 2009. The winners of the contest will receive thousands of dollars in prizes and gifts! If you’d like to check what others have said about our skills, I invite you to review our testimonials here.
Be prepared to take lots of notes and to introduce your business to more than twenty other professionals. Feel free to hand out your business cards and brochures.
This website will be our online meeting place, and will contain the information you’ll need to participate.
Professional transformation is yours in 2009, I can’t wait to help you unlock your plan for success. Welcome to your revolution!
Stay tuned every week to see updates to this post and join the game at any time!

Ready to get started? Read on!

The Rules of the Game!

• Log onto the website (www.ninetydaypowrplay.com)
• Read all rules pertaining to the contest and it’s timelines
• The contest is open to the entire on-line business community
• Answer all required blog post in a timely fashion
• Assignments will be posted weekly in the blog section of (www.ninetydaypowerplay.com) every Saturday for the next eight weeks
• Report any inappropriate, offensive or inflammatory language used on the site immediately it will be removed immediately
• The discussion will be monitored but not moderated
• All plans submitted in week 8 will be read and judged according to submission standards written in syllabus below
• Prizes and supporters will be announced to all participants as the contest unfolds. We anticipate $1000’s of dollars of prizes and cash

Syllabus and Weekly Assignment Posts

Establish (VMGD) Passionate and Powerful Vision and Mission Statements, Appropriate Goals, and Daily Action.

Week 1-tasks to be completed and submitted before 2PM on January 9th:

• Read each blog entry 1-6 on Vision at www.ninetydaypowerplay.com and leave comments for the community your comments must be at least five sentences for each entry (everyone will know if you fake it so don’t)
• List at least ten real measurements of success for you becoming the best networker that you can be in 2009
• List the values and principles that you will have to embrace and focus on to achieve these results
• List at least five weaknesses that you’ll have to strengthen in your current personal behavior to insure success
• List at least five strengths that you currently have that you’ll have to maximize and explain why
• List at least five opportunities that you must take advantage
• List at least five threats that could keep you from achieving your networking goals if you don’t get in front of them
• Look back over previous lists lessons and list why each is important

Week 2- tasks to be completed and submitted on or before Jan 16

• Look back over you previous list and for every entry ask what do I have to do specifically to achieve or get better results here?
• ­ List out your answers as in the example below (you may have more than forty entry’s). I’d use free form think like in your own personalized brain storming session for about 1/2 an hour
• ­ Prioritize your top ten items; these are you real goals that you must achieve
• ­ Break your goals into tasks that must be completed to achieve the goal. You might want to try some back wards planning here. There is a sample back up plan on my #4. You’ll need one for all ten. Begin with achieving the SMART goal and work backwards from there. If you are not use to doing this it will take some practice get started right away. Remember each of your ten items needs a backwards plan!
• ­ Now which of these tasks must you focus on daily for the rest of the year-choose five. Clearly you will do more than this but these will become your wildly important goals that we want to focus on everyday
• ­ List why each of these tasks is important

Develop a Powerful Diverse Network of Contacts

Week 3 -tasks to be completed and submitted on or before Jan 23

• Compiling your current and future contact data – It’s important for a master networker to be able to collect and use data from his/her networks. Today you are going to need more than the basic contact information. You’ll need to know their cell address, do they have a Skype account, are they using LinkedIn, Facebook maybe even Ning? You’ll want to understand what kinds of contacts they have that might want to use your services or help you find a job. Decide how you wish to assemble all your contacts in one location through whatever medium is easiest for you. It may be a combination of things such as your: Computer database Vendor/client list (I use Outlook and Excel), Mailing lists Rolodex (maybe LinkedIn or Jott) or Business card box etc.
• Segment your contacts – Decide how you want to segment your contacts and post results
• Define Your Team – Contact Spheres are businesses or professions that can easily provide a source of referrals for one another. They have a symbiotic, compatible, noncompetitive relationship with one another, such as a lawyer, CPA, financial planner, and banker.
• List the unique talents and skills that might make you attractive to them. They may make great reciprocal partners later.
• Plan to quarterback your own team – You must take responsibility for your networking activity and results. The quarterback is central to every offense; in this case every business acquisition or networking strategy. You’ll be the key figure to a host of others that have similar interest to you. Your team members may have the same client demographics that you do and work in the same markets. Each team member should be unique but not a competitor. We already talked about the symbiotic relationship above. Guess who the star player is? That would be you! You’re the one that knows all of the plays!
• List five habits that you’ll need to be a good quarterback.
• List at least five types of firms that you should build partnerships or alliances with to better enable you to serve your market. We sometimes refer to these as “golden geese”. They continue to lay the “golden eggs” that you want but you have to care for them. Don’t eat them! Selling to your team members could be hazardous to your health!
• Establish contact goals (remember goals are always SMART, back to week two)-Don’t become a cave dweller. You will have to constantly engage your networks. Set goals for the number of appointments you will establish with the people you want to have in your team or will build an alliance with.

Week 4-tasks to be completed and submitted on or before Jan30

• Start to identify your playing fields and your team mates-The selection process is very important. Don’t let chance decide where you’re going to spend your time and efforts. Remember, the key is to diversify your activities. One type of business organization will not serve all your needs. Therefore, you should consciously select a well-rounded mix of groups. Try to avoid being in more than one group that separates their membership by having one per category like a BNI chapter. If you have associates, partners, or employees, take their participation into account when deciding what groups you need to become active in you may not need to go!
• List the names of the groups that you now belong to. Remember networks are active groups of people that meet regularly and know you by name. Ideally they have existing communications mechanisms like meetings, conferences and newsletters that allow members to interact. Groups today might even have a social networking component on-line for its members. Some groups are all virtual and never really meet physically
• Analyze group information using any and all available methods
• List groups that you would like to consider for membership and provide details about the group’s demographics

Create Powerful Messages Delivered Effectively

Week 5-tasks to be completed and submitted on or before Feb 6

• List your five strongest personal character traits (PCT). Make sure these character traits are backed up and validated by others. What would your best friends say they are? You’ll know this because they already said it (that’s a hint).
• Of your PCTs list two ways you can leverage each of them to achieve your vision and mission. Think of things or ideas that can help others engage with you. What will make make your networking partners interested enough to commit to helping you? What’s the best way to communicate your vision and goals to them?
• Create two affirmation statements that you can repeat to yourself to increase your positive attitude or keep you focused
• Describe the image you would like to create amongst your networks

Week 6

Create Your Personal Plan for Networking Success

Week 7
Week 8
Welcome to the revolution!